Panthers' Reid ejected for Roethlisberger hit, gives QB first bump

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) rests on the sidelines late in the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers 52-21 win against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Reid was booted in the third quarter of the Panthers' 52-21 loss to the Steelers on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger and the Steelers faced a 3rd and 8 on the play from the Carolina 32-yard-line. The Steelers quarterback scrambled to his right and ran for 25 yards. He went to slide at the end of his run, but was hit by Reid.

Referees ruled that Reid committed an unnecessary roughness on the play and disqualified him from the rest of the game.

The Steelers quarterback looked back at officials for a flag following the hit, while his teammates ran to address Reid. Steelers star Maurkice Pouncey grabbed Reid by the face mask and voiced his displeasure. Reid approached Roethlisberger on his way off of the field and gave him a fist bump.

"Ben is a franchise quarterback," Pouncey said. "He means a lot to this organization and obviously to this football team. I could see if he was just running down, putting his shoulder down, trying to hit a guy, but he was giving himself up. It really shouldn't have happened, but Eric Reid did apologize so I respect him for that."

Roethlisberger finished that drive with an eight yard touchdown pass to Jesse James. He torched the Panthers by completing 22-of-25 passes for 328 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He also posted a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3.